BOY SCOUT TROOP 432 ELKRIDGE, MARYLAND Baltimore Area Council, BSA PARENTS' HANDOUT March 2000 This handout is designed to provide an overview of Troop 432 responsibilities, operations, and activities. We welcome recommendations from Scouts and parents on new programs/activities. Scout Responsibilities: Each Scout should participate in planned Troop and Patrol meetings, campouts, hikes, civic events, moneymaking projects, and conservation & service projects. Scouts are expected to wear the uniform correctly to all events requiring it, and live the Scout Oath and Law in daily life, particularly at all Scout related activities. Boys and their families are to learn and follow the ideal of participation in a boy led troop. Troop Responsibilities: The Troop will provide a planned program with emphasis on character development, citizenship growth, and physical fitness. The program is planned and run by boy leaders who are trained and guided by the Scoutmaster and his assistants. Emphasis during Troop meetings will include preparation for outdoor activities, maintaining the "outing" in Scouting through regularly scheduled hikes/campouts, and a chance for boys to become leaders and better citizens in a controlled environment. The major event each year will be a long-term camping experience. Parents' Responsibilities: Parents should support their Scout son(s) in all Troop endeavors, provide transportation to/from Troop scheduled events on an equitable basis with all other parents, and actively participate in Courts of Honor (held approximately 2 times per year) and money-making projects. When asked by either the Scoutmaster or the Troop Committee, parents should provide assistance as needed. Parents will be advised if/when their son(s) may demonstrate improper attitude or behavior. If any Scout becomes too unmanageable at a Troop function/activity, his parents may be called to get him. (SPECIAL NOTE: Parent of every Boy Scout are requested and needed to participate in Troop activities -- this will assure that sufficient adult supervision will be available at each of the Troop's activities.) 1
Meeting Place: Scouts should gather for the meetings between ten to fifteen minutes prior. Promptness is expected on each end of the meeting on the part of those providing transportation. (* Due to Privacy Reasons please see Scoutmaster for exact time/location) Troop Uniform: A used uniform closet is maintained by the Troop. Contact the Scoutmaster or Troop Committee Chairman for more information. We encourage parents to donate uniform items that no longer fit their sons. Leadership: The elected Senior Patrol Leader, in conjunction with the appointed Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guides and the elected Patrol Leaders will run the Troop. Scouts will be expected to cooperate when working/playing under their leadership. The Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster(s), and other boy leaders will also provide training, leadership, and guidance to all younger Scouts. Troop Warrant Positions: These positions are appointed by the Senior Patrol Leader. They are: Quartermaster, Scribe, Librarian, Historian, Bugler, and Chaplain Aide. Patrol/Troop Structure: All Scouts will be assigned to a Patrol, under a Patrol Leader and Assistant. Each Scout will be expected to participate in Patrol meetings and/or Patrol events as scheduled. We expect all Scouts to cooperate with these leaders. Elections for Troop positions normally occur twice a year, and all registered/active Scouts in the Troop may be eligible to compete for Troop and Patrol positions. Scout Participation: Our Troop Committee has adopted the following policy concerning eligibility for boys to participate in our outdoor program. Our program is open to all boys, but we strive to assure our parents that behavioral problems will not affect the quality of the program for other boys. Scouts must be approved for weekend campouts based upon behavior at the troop meetings, prior campouts, and other scout related events. Those with marginal behavior will require a parent to attend the next campout, until a better determination can be made as the scout matures and becomes accustomed to our program and the responsibilities. Scouts must have successfully attended two weekend overnight campouts before being allowed to attend the annual, full week, summer camp usually at Camp Horseshoe. If the Troop Committee determines that your son may not be ready for a week of summer camp, or has reason to believe that your son s 2
attendance may hamper program goals, our Scoutmaster and Committee Chair will meet with you and your son (at your choice) to discuss your options. We will make every attempt to include every boy in our extended camp program, but as young men mature at different speeds, some are just not ready for a long stay away from home and parents. For these scouts, more time in our monthly weekend outings will help them mature and prepare for the next year at summer camp. Most scouts attend four to five summer camps in their scouting career, so they will have ample opportunity to reap the benefits summer camp has to offer, even if it is at a later date. If a scout is at summer camp, and is not behaving properly, creates a health or safety concern, or continues to act in a way that prevents the continued operation of our boy led program, we will ask the parents to pick up their child at the earliest available time. Joining Fee: All prospective Troop 432 Scouts will be required to pay a registration joining fee of $45.00 at the time of initial registration. This fee will be used for registration, subscription to Boys' Life magazine, and selected Troop insignia (Patrol patch, badge of office [when needed], and badge of rank [when earned]). A Recharter fee will be paid every year in April. These fees cover the cost of all earned rank badges, merit badges, mother's pins, cards, and other selected awards. Money-making Projects: Appropriate projects will be selected by the Troop's adult leadership, boy leaders, and Troop Committee. EVERY SCOUT is expected to participate in equal amounts, since the benefits (new/replacement Troop equipment, and camping costs) are for all Scouts. Special fund raisers for summer camp and high adventure activities are included in these projects. Outdoor Activities: Troop 432 has an active outdoor program consisting of camping, hiking, orienteering, canoeing, and other special activities. There is at least one of these activities every month all year-round. The Troop provides tents, tarps, cooking stoves, lanterns, Patrol cooking/clean-up equipment, and other items needed for a fun and safe camping environment. Each Scout needs to provide his own eating utensils (plate, cup, knife, fork, spoon, etc.). In addition, parents must ensure their son(s) have clothing and sleeping bags appropriate to the season. Every Scout should acquire a backpack during his first year in Scouting. The Troop maintains an inventory of donated equipment (backpacks, sleeping bags, etc.) for use by Scouts. (For a more detailed list of camping equipment see pages 224-227 in the Boy Scout Handbook.). Every activity outside of Troop/Patrol meetings will have an information sheet/permission form detailing dates, times, place, cost, emergency phone numbers, etc. 3
Troop Equipment: The Troop maintains an extensive inventory of common camping gear, including tents, tarps, lanterns, patrol boxes, cooking gear, etc. After each campout, we may require each Scout who attends to take home various items of Troop equipment to be cleaned or hung up to dry. We ask parents to ensure that their son(s) take these responsibilities seriously, and to return all assigned equipment promptly. Some of this equipment is very expensive to replace so we need everyone's cooperation. Advancement: Advancement in Boy Scouts is not automatic. It is absolutely essential for each boy to use his personal initiative if he intends to advance in rank. Troop 432 provides ample opportunity for each boy who joins to advance all the way to Eagle Scout if he so chooses. However, we do not force any Scout to advance. Each Scout must set his own goals. Advancement can be broken down into two categories: a. Rank Advancement: Each rank (Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle) has a specific set of requirements which must be met before the Scout can earn that rank. The last two requirements for every rank except Scout are: "participate in a Scoutmaster Conference" and "meet with a Board of Review." To have a Scoutmaster Conference, a Scout must have completed all but the last two requirements for the rank he is working on. A Board of Review consists of adults from the Troop Committee who review a Scout's record and performance, and the board members decide whether he has learned/retained enough knowledge to justify earning that rank. If a Scout passes a Board of Review he will be awarded his new rank immediately. If he does not pass he will be told exactly what is expected of him to pass the next time he meets the board. Boards of Review are held at the last Troop meeting of each month and other times when deemed necessary. To meet a Board of Review a Scout must have had a Scoutmaster Conference, be in full "Class A" uniform, and have his Boy Scout Handbook with him. b. Merit Badges: Earning merit badges is required for Star, Life, and Eagle ranks. A Scout wishing to earn a merit badge must secure a Merit Badge Request Form from the Scoutmaster, obtain the name of and contact a merit badge counselor, acquire a merit badge pamphlet and comply with the requirements for that badge. A merit badge is not complete until the requested form is returned to the Scoutmaster, signed by the counselor. Counselors will only work with a group of at least two Scouts to comply with the 4
BSA Child Protection Policy. Merit badges are awarded only at Courts of Honor. The Troop maintains a merit badge pamphlet library and our Scouts can check out any of the pamphlets they may need to work on merit badges. These pamphlets must be shared with all Scouts in the Troop and should be returned on a timely basis. Parents may choose to purchase merit badge pamphlets for their son(s) at the Baltimore Area Council Scout Shop. The Troop welcomes donations of any pamphlets to expand our library. Safety: The safety of all Scouts in the Troop is of primary concern to the Troop leadership. Because of this, non-folding sheath knives, fireworks, and martial arts weapons (throwing stars, nun-chucks, etc.) will not be permitted at any Troop or patrol functions. Firearms and archery equipment are allowed only at those events specifically scheduled for the use of such items, even then, only under qualified adult supervision. For more information see the Guide to Safe Scouting. Troop Committee: The Troop Committee works for the chartering organization and is primarily responsible for supporting the Scoutmaster in delivering a quality Troop program and handling Troop administration. Some of these responsibilities include: providing adequate meeting facilities, carrying out policies and regulations of the Boy Scouts of America, providing adequate funding and disbursements in line with the approved budget plan, obtain/maintain and properly care for Troop property, and recruit & train quality adult leadership. All parents of Scouts registered with the Troop are considered members of the Troop Committee, and we encourage any and all to become registered with the Council. All parents are encouraged to attend the monthly Committee meeting which are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM. There are a variety of jobs that need to be accomplished to make the Troop function efficiently, and it takes more than just a few parents to do this. All positions are held by volunteers -- there are no paid positions. Interested volunteers may fill vacant positions at any time. Positions can be shared amongst volunteers to help with time constraints. Contacts: Have a question? Need information? Please contact either one of the following: PAT ELZA DONALD WECKER Committee Chairman Scoutmaster (410) 796-4474 (410) 379-5613 5